Epidermal differentiation factor

Abstract

A human epidermal differentiation factor polypeptide and DNA (RNA) encoding such polypeptide and procedure for producing such polypeptide by recombinant techniques is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing such polypeptide for treating and/or preventing skin diseases. Diagnostic assays for detecting mutations in a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide of the present invention and for detecting altered levels of the polypeptide of the present invention are also disclosed.

1 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide having at least 95% identity to a member selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acid 1 to 396 of SEQ ID NO:2; and    (b) the complement of (a).    
     
     
         2 . A method of making a recombinant vector comprising inserting the isolated polynucleotide of  claim 1  into a vector, wherein said polynucleotide is DNA.  
     
     
         3 . A recombinant vector comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein said polynucleotide is DNA  
     
     
         4 . A recombinant host cell comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein said polynucleotide is DNA.  
     
     
         5 . A method for producing a polypeptide comprising expressing from the recombinant cell of  claim 4  the polypeptide encoded by said polynucleotide.  
     
     
         6 . A process for producing a polypeptide comprising: 
 expressing from a recombinant cell containing the polynucleotide of  claim 1  the polypeptide encoded by said polynucleotide.    
     
     
         7 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide having a least a 95% identify to a member selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a polynucleotide encoding the same mature polypeptide encoded by the human cDNA in ATCC™ Deposit No. 97407, and    (b) the complement of (a).    
     
     
         8 . An isolated polypeptide comprising: 
 a mature polypeptide having an amino acid sequence encoded by a polynucleotide which is at least 95% identical to the polynucleotide of  claim 1 .    
     
     
         10 . An isolated polypeptide comprising: 
 a mature polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide which is at least 95% identical to the human cDNA contained in ATCC™ Deposit No. 97407.    
     
     
         11 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 10 , comprising the mature polypeptide encoded by the human cDNA in ATCC™ Deposit No. 97407.  
     
     
         12 . An antibody against the polypeptide of claim  9 .  
     
     
         13 . An antagonist against the polypeptide of claim  9 .  
     
     
         14 . A method for the treatment of patient having need of EDF comprising: 
 administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide of  claim 8 .    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide is administered by providing to the patient DNA encoding said polypeptide and expressing said polypeptide in vivo.  
     
     
         16 . A method for the treatment of a patient having need to inhibit an EDF polypeptide comprising: 
 administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of  claim 10 .    
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein said compound is a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence according to amino acids 1 to 396 of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         18 . A process for diagnosing a disease of susceptibility to a disease related to an under-expression of the polypeptide of  claim 11  comprising: 
 determining a mutation in a nucleic acid sequence encoding said polypeptide.    
     
     
         19 . A diagnostic process comprising: 
 analyzing for the presence of the polypeptide of  claim 11  in a sample derived from a host.    
     
     
         20 . A method for identifying compounds which bind to and inhibit activation of the polypeptide of  claim 11  comprising: 
 contacting a cell expressing on the surface thereof a receptor for the polypeptide, said receptor being associated with a second component capable of providing a detectable signal in response to the binding of a compound to said receptor, with an analytically detectable quantity of EDF polypeptide and a compound under conditions to permit binding to the receptor; and    determining whether the compound binds to and inhibits the receptor by detecting the absence of a signal generated from the interaction of the EDF polypeptide with the receptor.